The population of youths reporting sexual and gender minority (SGM) identities is growing in the United States. Protecting and promoting the health of SGM youths is a priority for the health system, and collection of SOGI data is a necessary step toward achieving this goal. Concerted efforts from providers, public health leaders, and policymakers are critical for addressing existing barriers to collecting SOGI information among pediatric patients.
Article: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Completeness at US Federally Qualified Health Centers, 2020 and 2021
Collecting patient sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data is essential for improving health care access, quality, and outcomes. Such data are critical for population health management, furthering understanding of health inequities, and informing interventions to address them. This study assessed the performance of US federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) after 6 years of required sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data reporting and updated estimated proportions of sexual and gender minorities cared for at FQHCs. Our conclusion is that substantial increases in SOGI data completeness at FQHCs over 6 years reflect the success of reporting mandates. Future research is needed to identify other patient-level and FQHC-level factors contributing to residual levels of SOGI data missingness.
View the article now in the American Journal of Public Health
Research Letter: Health Status and Health Care Access Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in the US, 2013 to 2018
A previous analysis identified health disparities among US adults who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) using data from the 2013 to 2014 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Since then, there have been substantial policy, legislative (eg, Obergefell vs Hodges), and sociocultural shifts that may have differentially affected sexual minority subgroups by recognizing the constitutional right to marriage equality, expanding state-level protections for LGB populations, and increasing public support for LGB-related issues.
New article on pediatric sexual orientation and gender identity data collection
"Pediatric sexual orientation and gender identity data collection in the electronic health record" was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. Authored by Hilary Goldhammer, Chris Grasso, Sabra Katz-Wise, Katherine Thomson, Allegra Gordon and Alex Keuroghlian, this article highlights methods that pediatric primary care organizations can use to collect and document sexual orientation and gender identity information with children and adolescents in electronic health records.
New Study Published: City-level Structural Stigma and Patient Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Collection at U.S. Health Centers
A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that federally qualified health care centers located in municipalities that implement LGBTQIA+ non-discrimination laws collect more complete sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data for patients than those located in municipalities that have not enacted LGBTQIA+ non-discrimination provisions. It is the first study to demonstrate an empirical relationship between SOGI patient data collection and the larger societal conditions, cultural norms, and institutional policies that adversely affect LGBTQIA+ people. The study contributes new knowledge to the growing body of research around stigma and discrimination and the health of minoritized populations.
New Journal Article: Optimizing gender-affirming medical care through anatomical inventories, clinical decision support, and population health management in electronic health record system
A paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association provides detailed guidance for making changes in electronic health records that will improve the quality of care of patients who are transgender and gender diverse. Authored by leading educators and clinical experts on LGBTQIA+ health care from The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital, the paper builds on previously published guidance from The Fenway Institute and Fenway Health on how to develop and integrate transgender health programs within existing primary health care practices and how to create culturally responsive health care environments for LGBTQIA+ people.
In the News: Covid Vaccine Data and LGBTQ People
A New York Times article published on May 7, 2021 highlights how lack of collection of data on sexual orientation and gender identity may cause LGBTQ people to be unseen in vaccine rollouts. National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center Director, Dr. Alex Keuroghlian, says "The reason we need to do data-driven, culturally responsive outreach is that medical mistrust — and along with that, vaccine hesitancy — among L.G.B.T.Q. people is rooted in the stigma and discrimination that this community has experienced over time." The online version of the article is here.
Fill out the Census!
LGBTQIA+ people have been undercounted on the Census for too long. The Census directly affects how billions of dollars in federal funding for social and health services will be distributed. The 2020 Census is our chance to ensure that LGBTQIA+ communities receive their fair share of political representation and funding for the next decade. You can complete the census at www.2020Census.gov.
Register for Advancing Excellence in Sexual and Gender Minority Health Conference
Advancing Excellence in Sexual and Gender Minority Health is a national CME course developed in response to a high volume of queries from clinicians and health care staff seeking to learn about providing high-quality care for patients who identify as a sexual or gender minority.
